Automated Microtomy Facing With Imaging-Based Tissue Quality Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional microtomy processes for producing thin tissue sections are manual, time-consuming, and lack effective quality control, leading to inaccurate assessments due to difficulties in differentiating tissue from paraffin and potential tissue damage during transfer to slides.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an automated system with imaging and vision systems to enhance tissue differentiation from embedding material, perform quality control analyses, and ensure accurate transfer of tissue sections to slides, using structured light and UV illumination for precise depth profiling and mechanical integrity checks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual transfer of tissue sections to slides is performed, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but quality control accuracy deteriorates due to difficulty in differentiating tissue from paraffin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary imaging system that captures images of tissue sections on slides and compares them with reference images. This intermediary visual comparison mechanism enables accurate differentiation between tissue and paraffin without requiring direct manual assessment, thereby improving quality control accuracy while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy of the tissue block before sectioning and compares it with images of the sections after cutting. This copying approach allows for verification that the section contains the intended tissue sample, enabling accurate quality control through image comparison rather than direct manual examination of the physical section.
2Productivity
If automated microtome cutting is implemented, then productivity increases, but measurement precision deteriorates due to loss of manual quality assessment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where images of cut tissue sections are automatically captured and compared with reference images of the original tissue block. This closed-loop feedback system enables the automated microtome to maintain high productivity while ensuring quality control accuracy through continuous visual verification that the sectioned tissue matches the original sample.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical quality assessment with an automated optical imaging and image comparison system. This substitution allows the automated microtome to maintain high cutting speed while the imaging system performs precise quality verification, eliminating the trade-off between productivity and measurement precision.
3Measurement precision
If manual facing and sectioning is performed, then measurement precision is maintained, but productivity deteriorates due to time-consuming processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary imaging of the tissue block before sectioning to create a reference image. This preliminary action enables the automated system to subsequently compare each cut section against the reference, maintaining measurement precision through pre-established visual criteria while eliminating the need for time-consuming manual assessment of each section.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy (image) of the tissue block before sectioning and uses this copy as a reference for quality control. This copying approach allows automated comparison of sections against the original tissue appearance, maintaining measurement precision while enabling high-speed automated processing without manual intervention.
4Reliability
If tissue sections are transferred manually to slides, then adaptability is maintained, but reliability deteriorates due to potential tissue damage and mismatch between slide label and tissue section
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates visual copies (images) of the tissue block and compares them with images of the sections after automated transfer to slides. This copying and comparison mechanism verifies that the correct tissue section is placed on the correct slide, ensuring reliability of tissue-integrity and identification accuracy while the automated system handles the transfer process without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through automated imaging and comparison that verifies successful transfer of tissue sections to slides. This feedback mechanism confirms that the tissue section matches the intended sample and is properly positioned on the slide, thereby improving reliability by detecting and preventing mismatches between slide labels and actual tissue sections.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system significantly reduces quality control issues by ensuring precise and efficient transfer of tissue sections, enhancing accuracy and reducing manual errors, thereby improving pathology assessment.
Implementation Method 1
imaging the tissue block to create a first imaging data of the tissue sample in a tissue section on the tissue block
Implementation Method 2
using structured light and UV illumination for precise depth profiling
Implementation Method 3
using structured light and UV illumination for precise depth profiling
Implementation Method 4
estimating, based on the imaging data, a depth profile of the tissue block
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for facing a tissue block. In some embodiments, a method is provided for facing a tissue block that includes imaging a tissue block to generate imaging data of the tissue block, the tissue block comprising a tissue sample embedded in an embedding material, estimating, based on the imaging data, a depth profile of the tissue block, wherein the depth profile comprises a thickness of the embedding material to be removed to expose the tissue sample to a pre-determined criteria, and removing the thickness of the embedding material to expose the tissue to the pre-determined criteria.